Chargers improve to 7-3; visit W&L in playoffs Friday

The Middlesex High School varsity football team scored a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to defeat Mathews 28-21 Friday night and finish the regular season with a 7-3 record.

The Chargers also earned a berth in the Class 1A East Region playoffs.

Middlesex does not have a football field this year due to the current construction of the Syd Thrift Sports Complex, so the Chargers conducted their homecoming activities at halftime of Friday’s game in Mathews.

The Chargers will play Washington & Lee (6-4) in Montross at 7:30 p.m. this Friday, November 15, in the opening round of the regional playoffs. Sixteen teams are in the Class 1A East Region playoffs.

Middlesex 28
Mathews 21

Quarterback Marques Holmes was back on the field for the Chargers against Mathews. Holmes was sick and unable to play in Middlesex’s win over King and Queen on October 31.

Holmes scored on a 28-yard run late in the first quarter and Joseph Cockrell kicked the extra point for a 7-0 Charger lead.

Mathews tied the game 7-7 with 8:48 to play in the second quarter.

Robert Drewry ran one yard for a TD and Cockrell kicked the extra point with 4:44 to play in the first half.

Mathews made a late second quarter drive and knotted the game at 14-14 with 48 seconds remaining in the half.

At the 3:24 mark of the third quarter Holmes ran 6 yards for a TD and Cockrell added the extra point for a 21-14 Charger lead.

The Blue Devils tied the game 21-21 on a 6-yard run with 4:04 to play.

The Chargers came right back and scored the winning touchdown on a 12-yard pass from Holmes to D’Angelo King with only 14 seconds to play in the game.

“It was a great game to watch,” said Middlesex coach Billy Jarvis. “It was an entertaining game.”

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